AU690773B2 - Compressed gas canister carrier - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 321168

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

I I I- Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Karl Jansson Unit 22, 8-12 Railway Crescent 3annali New South Wales 2226

AUSTRALIA

Karl Eric Jansson Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Compressed Gas Canister Carrier 0 ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [313 Application No(s) [333 Country PN3325 AU [321 Application Date 15 December 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 -1A COMPRESSED GAS CANISTER CARRIER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of transportation of compressed gas s canisters generally and in particular to devices for manually carrying cylindrical, compressed gas tanks.

Background of the Invention Often, people carry a cylindrical, compressed gas canister, or tank, manually using only two fingers to grasp the valve of the canister. Transportation of generally So large and awkward, cylindrical canisters in this fashion limits both the distance and the number of cylinders that can be transported by a person. The resulting stresses on the arm(s) of the person, and the fingers in particular, significantly limits the distance over which a person may carry the canister. This is further exacerbated when the canister is being transported difficult terrain, such as when a person is walking across sand dunes 15 or climbing staircases. This is further compounded by the weight of the canister.

t* As is well known, the transportation of gas canisters frequently results in personal injury to the person carrying the cylinder. Further, it is not uncommon for injury to other person(s) in proximity to the transported cylinder and/or damage to property to also happen due to the difficulty of controlling the cylinder during transportation.

There have been many prior art devices for carrying a compressed gas cylinder, but they have all required some form of strap or bracket which is temporarily mounted on the tank.

For example, one device for carrying compressed air cylinders used by scuba divers requires the user to mount a handle over the length of the cylinder using a velcro strap at the top and bottom of the cylinder. Such devices have the disadvantage that a compressed air cylinder cannot be lifted and carried with ease without 'lie time consuming action of fitting the carrying device onto a cylinder.

JN:Uibcl0442:mx1 Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for carrying an elongated gas canister, comprising: a head adapted to engage a portion of one end of the canister; a handle connected to the head; and a securing member for essentially encircling a portion of the canister, the securing member connected to the handle at a position displaced lengthwise along the handle from the head to enable secure lifting and transportation of the canister.

Preferably, the elongated gas canister is substantially cylindrical in shape, and may comprise a compressed air tank. Further, the portion of one end of the canister preferably comprises a valve receptacle, and may have a termination device connected to the valve receptacle.

'Preferably, the head is formed of flexible material to accommodate a range of gas canisters. Alternatively, the head may be of a fixed shape to accommodate a s15 specific type of gas canister.

Preferably, the securing member comprises a strap arranged substantially as a loop, and the strap may b, connected by one or more fasteners to the handle.

Alternatively, the handle is adapted to fasten the securing member therewith, and may incorporate a slotted receptacle for fastening the securing member.

Preferably, the strap is made of a cross-stitched/woven nylon material.

*0*6 Preferably, the handle is made of metal, plastics, wood, or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the securing member is connected to the handle displaced from the head at a distance essentially more than half of the longitudinal length of the gas canister.

1N\IibccIoO442:mxl .3- Brief Description of the Drawings The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the carrying device according to the preferred embodiment positioned above a compressed gas cylinder prior to engagement; and Fig. 2 is a side view of a person using the carrying device of Fig. 1 to transport the compressed gas cylinder in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description A device 10 for carrying a compressed gas cylinder 8 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a head 1, a handle 2, and a strap 4.

The handle 2 preferably consists of a length of tube or a rod, and is made of a suitably strong, substantially rigid material such as metal, moulded plastic, wood, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the handle 2 has a grip 12 connected to the end of the 15 handle 2 opposite that of the head 1. The grip 12 may be a separately attachable one, or alternatively may be formed by integrally moulding the grip in the handle 2, for example.

The head 1 is preferably attached to the handle 2 by means of a fastener 3, such as rivets or screws. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, however, that other means of connecting the head 1 and the handle 2 together may be practiced without departing from the scope and spirit of tL* invention. For example, the head 1 and the handle 2 may be consist of an integral structure made of moulded plastic or metal. Alternatively, the handle 2 may be made of wood and the head 1 may incorporate a cap-like structure for fitting on one end of the handle 2 as is commonly done with metal axe heads, and the like, and wooden handles.

Preferably, the head 1 of the carrying device 10 is made from a flexible material to accommodate a large range of sizes of valve heads 14 provided on the top of compressed gas cylinders 8. In another aspect of the invention, the head 1 of the [N:\1bcc100442mx -4carrier 10 may be rigid and formed specifically to meet the design of a fixture 14 at the top of the compressed gas cylinder 8.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the device 10 for carrying a compressed air cylinder 8 according to the invention is not restricted to the head shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A head design to accommodate specific compressed air cylinder types may be practiced without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The securing member or strap 4 is formed into a loop and the ends of the strap 4 are preferably sewn together, as represented by reference numeral 5 in Fig. 1. The carry strap 4 has a circumference to accommodate by loose fit a range of compressed gas cylinders 8. The strap 4 is fitted to the handle 2 by means of a bracket or slotted receptacle 6 to hold the strap's position on the handle 2.

Preferably, the carry strap 4 is made of cross stitched/woven nylon material similar to motor vehicle seat belts. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in 1 the art that the securing member 4 can be formed in a number of other manners and connected to the handle 2 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The primary consideration for the arrangement of the securing member 4 is that it be capable of easily and readily fitting over the elongated, cylindrical canister 8 as indicated in Fig. 1 and that it be capable of supporting the suspended cylinder during transportation. For example, the securing member 4 may comprise a rigid, 99oo substantially circular structure made of rigid plastic complementarily dimensioned to the dimensions of the canister 8 to provide relatively snug engagement therebetween.

The carrying device 10 according to the preferred embodiment is advantageously capable of being readily and easily mounted on the canister 8 to lift and carry the canister 8. To do so, the carrying device 10 is manually lowered over the cylinder 8 so that the strap 4 passes over one end of the cylinder 8 and surrounds the cylinder 8. That is, the strap 4 is placed around the circumference of the compressed gas cylinder 8. The device 10 is lowered until the head 1 of the carrying .device 10 is IN:\IibccI0o442:rnxl positioned in engagement with one end of the cylinder 8, and preferably over the valve 14 at the top of the compressed gas cylinder 8.

The cylinder 8 is tilted by hand at which point the weight of the cylinder 8 is transferred to the strap 4, and the carrying device 10 is ready to transport the s compressed gas cylinder 8.

Fig. 2 illustrates the device 10 for carrying a compressed gas cylinder 8 in operation. As shown, the handle 2 is held by the user 7 grasping grip 12 with the weight of the compressed gas cylinder 8 met by the strap 4. The counteracting force of the compressed gas cylinder 8 on the strap 4 is met by the carrier head 1.

By use of the carrier device 10, the user 7 is able to manually lift and carry a compressed gas cylinder 8 easily without undue physical stress. In this way, sufficient clearance is provided between the canister 8 and the ground so that the user can travel over rough terrain, steps or similar obstacles.

Only a small number of embodiments of the present invention have been 15 described and it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

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Claims (14)

1. A device for carrying an elongated gas canister, comprising: a head adapted to engage receive a portion of one end of said canister; a handle connected to said head; and a securing member for essentially encircling a portion of said canister, said securing member connected to said handle at a position displaced lengthwise along said handle from said head to enable secure lifting and transportation of said canister.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elongated gas canister is substantially cylindrical in shape.

3. The device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said portion of one end of said canister comprises a valve receptacle.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said portion further comprises a termination device connected to said valve receptacle.

The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said gas :i 15 canister is a compressed air tank.

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said head is formed of flexible material to accommodate a range of gas canisters.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said head is of a fixed shape to accommodate a specific type of gas canister.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said securing member comprises a strap arranged substantially as a loop.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said strap is connected by one or more fasteners to said handle.

The device according to claims 8 or 9, wherein said strap comprises cross-stitched/woven nylon material.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 10, wherein said handle is adapted to fasten said securing member therewith. IN-%I;bceIO0442:mxI

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said handle incorporates a slotted receptacle for fastening said securing member.

13. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said handle is made of material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastics, a combination of metal and plastics, and wood.

14. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said securing member is connected to said handle displaced from said head at a distance essentially more than half of the longitudinal length of the gas canister. A device for carrying an elongated gas canister substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this FOURTEENTH day of DECEMBER 1995 Karl Jansson 9, Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON 99 9• *9 9 ABSTRACT COMPRESSED GAS CANISTER CARRIER A device (10) for carrying an elongated, cylindrical gas canister consists of a head adapted to engage a portion of one end (14) of the canister a handle (2) connected to the head and a securing member for essentially encircling a portion of the canister wherein the securing member is connected to the handle at a position displaced lengthwise along the handle from the head to enable secure lifting and transportation of the canister The head is preferably formed of flexible material to accommodate a range of gas canisters Alternatively, the head is of a fixed shape to accommodate a specific type of gas canister The securing member is a strap arranged substantially as a loop and is made of a cross-stitched/woven nylon material. The handle is made of metal, plastics, wood, or a combination thereof. *o*oo *o6 *o oo* IN:\hbccl00442'"ixl